Month: June 2017

Tell us a little about who you are and where you live.

I’m an old retired nurse who got a second chance at parenting when we adopted Peamite, who is now 6 years old. We live in the sleepy town of Wiggins, MS.

Other than geocaching, what draws you to Louisiana?

Muggle Hubby’s family is from Louisiana and we have lots of friends and family scattered across the state. The food, culture and atmosphere that Louisiana offers turns visits into a feeling of ‘coming back home’. Other than Geocaching? That’s icing on the cake cause Louisiana has some of the best! That alone is enough to draw us there!!

Why did you decide to try geocaching?

My friend and I had always played in the woods, hiking and metal detecting, looking for Native American artifacts. I read an article years ago about finding geocaches in remote areas, but never knew how to find them. When on a Facebook group about camping, someone mentioned geocaching at one of the State Parks and there was a phone app one could use. I downloaded the app, went solo to find one near me and was hooked from day one!

Everyone has a Geocaching “big fish” story about the hunt that was much more than you expected at the start. What is yours?

After finding a few regular caches, I stumbled upon a Multi (Wild Ideas- GCJ4V5) in the Desoto Forest at an old CC Camp. It was at the beginning of a hiking trail and I was anxious to find the ‘treasure’ that was hidden in the forest. I imagined it to be just like the stories I’d read after finding as much information as I could in the few caches I had already found. I arrived at the parking area, made my way to GZ, only to spend what seemed like hours trying to find the container. My phone quickly drained it’s battery. So, I leave determined to get a new phone but got a battery pack instead. Few days later, I grab my friend and we head back with new battery pack and another set of eyes. We were so excited! We were going to find hidden treasure. We finally found the container, which had cords for the second stage. I had no clue how to get those in my phone. We ended up hiking the trail and left with our bubble deflated. I spent days trying to work that stupid cords. When I did learn how to get from A to B.. I went back. I spent most of a day along that trail, found the second stage, which was an ammo can. You would have thought it was full of treasure! Miffed that this was the second stage and there was another, I hiked to the third.. and took several minutes looking and found Wild Ideas!! I was chocked full of wild ideas and TREASURE!! I don’t think I have ever left the forest any more excited than that day. I knew then, there’d be more geocaching in my future.

What is your Geocaching EDC (Everyday carry)? What gear do you have to have with you?

I have a clip, that attaches to a ring on my phone case, that holds my small signature stamp, a pen and a dental pick. The dental pick is to help remove those pesty rolled logs in nano’s and bison tubes.
Like everyone else, I carry way to much ‘stuff’ in my geomobile. Besides my cellphone, I have to have my hiking stick when in the woods or forest. It’s found more ammo cans in the woods that I could ever count and is about the most useful TOTT I have.

What is the most memorable thing you’ve seen or found while caching?

GC5330Y – Ancient Mariner (now archived) Multi water cache that Muggle Hubby and I did when we took our maiden voyage in our new yaks. After finding the first stage in the middle of the bayou… we paddled up a small canal and bam! There’s an ancient ship marooned on land. If I’d have pulled up the satellite imagery, I’d have known.. but it was totally amazing. It’s still one of my top favorite caches!!

What cache is on your Bucket list?

Gosh… that’s a hard one. I have so many still in the bucket but right now it’d have to be GC1AM16 – I10 Interstate Highway Challenge.

Any other hobbies?

Peamite and I collect Extagz, another brand of Pathtags, although we like those!

Anything else you would like to say?

Geocaching, like life, can be an adventure. Just like this crazy life we live in, it’s what you decide to make of it.

What was the inspiration for your geocaching name?

I work at the local pretzel shop in the Mall and everyone knows me as the Pretzel Lady. It was only fitting that I call my Daughter Aimee who is always with me PretzalNugget.

Why did you decide to try geocaching?

I am a Boy Scout Leader and it was a merit Badge we were working on. I enjoyed it but the boys we had at that time did not. My new younger scouts now love it.

What cache were you after? What did you expect to find?

Dead End GCXNN9. This was my first attempt and I was not sure what to expect. What I found was what looked like a nail head and it was a nano stuck in the top of the pole.

Everyone has a Geocaching “big fish” story about the hunt that was much more than you expected at the start. What is yours?

I hate Multi Caches but I needed to find The Curse of Madame LeVeaux (GC573QV). Pretzalnugget and I found this shortly after I had shoulder surgery, my arm was still in a sling. I had to climb up a little hill that was covered with pine straw, as I was reaching the top I grabbed a tree limb and it snapped and I lost my Balance and fell down, tree limb then fell across my legs. It was a fairly large limb. As I laid there assessing my injuries, it crossed my mind that if I was seriously injured, Pretzalnugget would not be able to help me. Thankfully I was not severely hurt and I did find the final stage. I have to say this was a great cache.

What is your Geocaching EDC (Everyday carry)? What gear do you have to have with you?

I never leave home without my caching stuff, i have a tub of spare containers, a tub of swag, and a tool box with logs, pencils pens, zip ties, super glue, bison tubes , nano’s, my multi tool, scissors, and much more. I also carry a full first aid kit.

What is the most memorable thing you’ve seen or found while caching?

As of this week I would have to say the grave of the Revolutionary War Soldier at a Cemetery in Leota, Indiana.

What cache is on your Bucket List?

Any Cache I have not yet found.

Any other hobbies?

Scouting and Camping

Anything else you would like to say?

I love going to events and meeting other Geocaches. I had the opportunity to go to GeoWoodstock XV in North Carolina and it was an awesome experience. I enjoy hiding caches as much as I do finding them.